Rennie Scaysbrook | April 9, 2016
Garrett Gerloff started the MotoAmerica Supersport season in stellar style, taking a resounding victory over his Yamaha Extended Services/Graves teammate and reigning Supersport champion, JD Beach at Circuit of the Americas today.
Gerloff qualified on the pole for the Supersport class’ only race of the weekend on the undercard to the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, missing out on the holeshot to Beach before taking a lead a couple of laps later he would never relinquish.
“The track was a little greasy today, not sure if that was due to the grand prix guys or not but it was really hard to keep the bike in line,” said Gerloff. “Still, I was able to do smooth and consistent laps and get the win at my home track, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Beach lamented a wrong tire selection he hoped would give him a little extra grip in the last third of the race. Instead it did the opposite, as Gerloff pulled away inch by inch to be one second clear at the flag.
“We took a gamble with the tire and it definitely didn’t work but that’s the decision I made,” said the reigning champ. “We learned a lot and I improved my riding, plus we have a long season to go so I’m looking forward to it.”
Third went to MotoAmerica rookie Valentine Debise, the former Moto2 rider putting his M4 Sportbike Trackgear.com Suzuki on the podium in his first visit to COTA.
“I wasn’t expecting to do the podium,” said a delighted Debise. “The end of the race was a bit difficult with tires sliding a lot, but I got there to the podium, so job done. I wasn’t surprised with the tire performance, we have had some problems with it when testing and three laps before the end it was sliding a lot, but we got there in the end.”
Rounding out the top five was 2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Joe Roberts (Wheels in Motion/Meen Motorsport.com Yamaha YZF-R6) in his return to the Supersport ranks, the youngster getting coming out top of a Californian battle with Team H35 Honda CBR600RR rider Benny Solice.
